"To me, very! I wish to make a few things plain to you. In the past--I
had no intention of hurting or of disgracing you--"

Slotman started, and clenched his hands. What did that man mean? He
wondered, what could such words as those mean?

"But as I have shamed and angered you, I have come to offer the only
reparation in my power--a poor one, I will admit."

He looked at her, paused for a moment to give her an opportunity of
speaking, but she did not speak. She looked at him steadily.

"May I briefly explain my position? I am practically alone in the world.
My home is at Hurst Dormer, one of the finest old buildings in Sussex. I
have an income of eight thousand a year."

"What has this to do with me?"

"Only that I am offering it to you, myself and all I possess. I am
asking you to do me the honour of marrying me. It seems to me that it is
the one and the only atonement that I can make for what has passed."

"You are--very generous! And--and you think that I would accept?"

"I hoped that you might consider the offer."

Slotman gripped at the edge of the table against which he leaned.

He could scarcely believe his own ears--Joan, who had held her head so
high, whom he had believed to be above the breath of suspicion!